Collapsible cart for golf bags



April 3, 1956 J. F, CHAMBERLIN HAL 2,740,638

COLLAPSIBLE CART FOR GOLF BAGS Filed May 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTORS- BY Wei! (L. WW.

TTORNEX April 3, 1956 J. F. CHAMBERLIN ErAL 2,740,638

COLLAPSIBLE CART FOR cow BAGS Filed May 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 90 88ay waldzw ATrwPA/EY.

United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE CART FOR GOLF BAGS Joseph F. Chamberlinand Robert A. Westphal, Chicago, 11].; said Westphal assignor to saidChamberlin Application May 20, 1954, Serial No. 431,190

1 Claim. (Cl. 280-42) This invention relates to an improved collapsiblecart for golf bags, and the present constrution comprises improvementsover earlier patents granted to Joseph F. Chamberlin on January 27,1953, entitled Foldable Golf Cart and Collapsible Golf Cart, Nos.2,626,814 and 2,626,815 respectively.

This invention also includes additional improvements over the structureshown and described in our joint application for patent on Cart for GolfBags, Serial No. 354,488, filed May 12, 1953.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide agolf bag carrying cart of the class described which will be moreeconomical of manufacture, sturdier of construction, and which willincorporate fewer parts with additional improvements.

One of the important objects of this invention is the provision of afoldable or collapsible cart for golf bags and the like which can bereadily collapsed into a relatively small space for storage,transportation or handling, and which can also be as readily extended oropened into golf bag carrying position with a minimum expenditure oftime and trouble.

As disclosed in the earlier patents and previous application, one of theimportant features of the invention is to provide a golf bag carryingcart having an operating handle which is so constructed and so fastenedto the main structure that the cart can be readily propelled over a golfcourse or the like with a golf bag or other load upon it and in such amanner that practically no weight will be upon the operators hands orarms, while at the same time it will be relatively easy to guide along adesired path.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf bag carrying cart,which, while being readily foldable into a small compass when not inuse, will be composed of a minimum number of parts, and which willfurther be readily adjustable to accommodate itself to various heightsor sizes of golf bags which may be carried thereon.

Still another and further important object of the invention is toprovide a device of the class described which can be readily assembledfrom prefabricated parts and which, after being assembled, can beplated, coated or otherwise rust-proofed in its assembled condition,thereby eliminating the expense and trouble of individually plating andcoating separate parts which must then be later assembled, and whichaccordingly are always subject to the possibility of non-fitting andalso of being marred in the assembly operation. Partial assemblies canbe thus plated.

The cart of this invention is provided with a foldable or collapsiblehandle, which, when raised, will extend the supporting wheels intooperative position, and which when depressed, will fold the wheels. Agravity operated latch is provided for retaining the handle in upraisedposition.

Another improvement comprises an adjustable sup port for the bottom of agolf bag or other object which may be carried on the cart.

2,740,638 Patented Apr. 3, 1956 Other and further important objects ofthe invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanyingdrawing and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fullly described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view taken from the handle side of the improvedcollapsible cart for golf bags in this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the structure of Figure l taken on theline 22, showing in more detail the main body element, the golf bagsupporting bracket, the pivotal connection for the handle and the latchtherefor.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 3--3 of Figure1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the handle, drawbar and latchconstruction, showing also the adjustable bracket for accommodatingvarious heights of golf bags.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, illustrating the adjustablebracket in a lowermost position, as distinguished from the intermediateand high positions illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the top end of the main tubular bodymember with the support for the latch and handle mounted thereon.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the structure ofFigure 6.

Figure 8 is a front view of the top end of the body of the cart, showingthe adjustable bag supporting bracket, and is taken looking from one endof Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a ing bracket.

Figure 11 is a perspective detail view of the lower end of the cart witha different type of bag supporting bracket mounted thereon, this typebeing adjustable.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken on the line l313 of Figure 3.

Figure 14 is a sectional View taken on the line 1414 of Figure 3.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 14 indicates generally the tubular main bodymember of the improved collapsible cart for golf bags of this invention.

This terminates at its upper end by a circular cap or closure element16.

Affixed to the upper end of the tube 14 is a bracket or clamp, having acorrugated medial portion 18 (Figure 6) and integral, parallel, similarextensions 20. This fixture 1820 is clamped into position about theupper end of the body or tube 14 and held in place by welding, brazingor soldering 22. A pair of small bolts 24 are fitted into alignedopenings in the element 18 and the tube 14 so as to temporarily hold theparts in position until welding or brazing is accomplished. These arethen ordinarily simply allowed to remain in position.

The extensions 20 of the bracket element 18 are each provided with fivealigned openings, and into the lowermost and outermost of these alignedopenings 26, is fitted a pin or bolt 23 which forms the pivot connectionfor the operating handle 30-31 of the cart. The portion 30 is formed oftwo parallel strips, and the outer end 31 is preferably tubular with aknob 32 on the end, all as best shown in Figure 1.

A link or draw-bar 34 is connected to the inner portion 30 of thehandle, closely adjacent to its pivot point, and this draw-bar or linkhas its other end pivctally connected to the mechanism which collapsesor extends the detail view of the lower bag support- 3 supporting armsor legs 36 for the wheels 38, and which mechanism is fully described andshown in the previously mentioned patents and application.

A manually controlled gravity operated latch 40 is pivotally mounted at42 in aligned openings 44 in the plates 20, and the outer end of thislatch is adapted for locking engagement with a pin or bolt 46 fittedinto the handle elements 38 at a point between their pivoted ends andthe pivotal connection 48 for the link or drawbar 34. Another bolt 50passes through aligned openings 52 in the brackets 21) for betterfastening purposes. It also keeps the sides of brackets 20 in positionand parallel and acts as a stop for the handle to limit its upwardmovement.

A supporting plate for the upper end of the golf bag is provided at 54(Figure 2) and this may be of any desired or convenient shape, and isordinarily fitted with a bag retaining strap 56.

This plate is connected to a U'shaped support 58 (Figure 9), thefastening being accomplished by bolts and hollow sockets 60 and 62respectively.

This element 58 has its wing portions or ends provided with fouropenings 64 into which bolts 66 can be fitted, (Figures 4 and 5).

In its normal intermediate position, the bolts 66 pass through the twopairs of aligned upper openings in the element 58 and through thecorrespondingly aligned openings 68 in the brackets 20. As best shown inFigure 4, the plate 54 with its attaching element 56 can be movedupwardly into a higher position, shown by the dotted lines, by fittingthe bolts 66 into the two lower pairs of holes 64. Conversely, theentire element 54---58 can be reversed and moved into the lowermostposition shown in Figure 5. This allows of a ready adinstability toaccommodate any length of golf bag. The bag holding plate 54 can also bemoved downwardly with respect to the support 58 by shifting the positionof the bolts 60 with respect to the threaded sockets 62, as best shownin Figure 8. The bracket size and number of holes can be varied.

The mounting and support of the upper ends of the arms or legs 36 withrespect to the body 14 has also been improved upon, this comprising acorrugated element 70 somewhat similar in cross section to the element18. This is fitted about the tube 14 in a desired position, and includesintegral laterally extending wing portions 72 which are best shaped asshown in Figure 3 to provide a web structure for additional strength.This Web structure is shown in more detail in Figure 13. The plate 74 isfastened by bolts 76 to the face of the bracket extensions 72, and asboth of these elements 72 and 74 are semi-circularly recessed, space isaccordingly provided for the reception of a shaft or pin 78. This shaftextends beyond the edges of the plates 72 and 74, and it is welded to aU-shaped piece 80 on both sides. This constitutes an assembly and it isplated by itself and then assembled by placing a plate 74 over the pin78 and bolting to the bracket 72 and 70. 70 and 72 are welded to thetube 14 and plated together. The corrugations of the elements 18 and 70provide spaces between them selves and the tube 14 so that acids used inthe plating process after the parts are assembled will readily drain outand will not cause rusting or corrosion at a later date.

The lower end of the body or tube 14 is provided with a convenentionalfloor or base support 82 having a strap 84 as best shown in Figures 1and 10. However, an adjustable feature for accommodating various sizesof golf bags can be installed, as best shown in Figures 11 and 12. Thiscomprises essentially a supporting plate 86 fixed to the end of the tube14 by clamps or the like 87, and which has welded or otherwise fixedthereto a U-shaped element 88.

Mounted on the U-shaped portions 88 are two plates 89 and 90 (Figure12), shaped as shown and provided with openings into which bolts 91 arefitted.

These bolts are adapted to pass through any pair of a series of openings92 in strap-like elements 93, terminating in forward hook portions 94.The plates 89 and 90 are additionally held together and in position bybolts 95 fitted into square holes 96 in the plate 89.

This construction enables of an adjustment of the hook-like clampingelements to encompass and securely hold the lower end of a golf bag 81,regardless of size.

It will be evident that herein is provided an improved collapsible cartfor golf bags which is more economical of construction than thoseheretofore designed, and which additionally is adjustable to variousheights and size of bags. The collapsible features are the same, withfurther improvements for making a more rugged construction, and thefittings are such that the entire device is not at all likely to get outof order.

By the addition of attachments, this can be used as a postmans cart andto carry an outboard motor for boats or the like. It can also beemployed for work in gardens to transport various materials employed inthat environment. Also, with little or no change, it may be used bysalesmen to carry sample cases.

We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limitingthe patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the priorart.

We claim as our invention:

A collapsible cart for golf bags comprising a body portion, a pair ofsupporting wheels pivotally mounted with respect to the body portion, apropelling handle pivotally mounted at the top end of the body, link andarm connections between the handle and wheels for bringing the wheelsinto parallel folded relationship with each other when the handle islowered, an adjustable bracket and strap for the upper portion of a golfbag at the top end of the body, an adjustable bracket and support forthe lower portion of the golf bag at the lower end of the body, saidupper adjustable support including a clamping element adapted toencircle the body, extensions on the element for supporting the pivotedhandle, means in the extensions for supporting the strap holding bracketin a plurality of positions, a latch for retaining the handle in raisedoperative position, said latch being pivoted on a supporting boltmounted in the extensions, the support for the lower end of the golf bagincluding a cross-plate at the end of the body, a U-shaped bracket onthe cross-plate and a pair of combination straps and hooks adjustablymounted on the U-shaped bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,598,046 Frey May 27, 1952 2,619,360 Alter Nov. 25, 1952 2,626,814Chamberlin Ian. 27, 1953

